Tuberculous otitis media and lupus vulgaris of face: An unusual association

Abstract

Tuberculous otitis media is a rare extra-pulmonary presentation of tuberculosis. Tuberculous otitis media is usually associated with pulmonary tuberculosis or tuberculosis involving nasopharynx and oropharynx. Lupus vulgaris is the most common morphological variant of cutaneous tuberculosis. The disease often affects the face and may be associated with nasal or nasopharyngeal tuberculosis. Lupus vulgaris associated with tuberculous otitis media is not reported in English literature. We report a case of 40 year old female patient who presented with symptoms of chronic suppurative otitis media and nonhealing skin lesion of face. The biopsy of skin lesion showed granulomatous pathology and helped us to reach a diagnosis of tuberculous otitis media.